Device for slowing down and stopping machines rolling on rails

Abstract

The device comprises a body (1) for placing on a rail (R) for the purpose of receiving a wheel of a machine to be slowed down and stopped and forming an abutment for the wheel, and an arrangement for connecting the device to the rail. The connecting arrangement comprises a plate (7) carrying elastically yieldable claws (10 and 11) which are maintained spread apart in their position of rest. The plate (7) is adapted to be applied against the rail (R) and is pivotally connected to an arrangement (21) for moving the claws (10 and 11) towards each other for the purpose of closing them around the head of the rail. The arrangement (21) is connected to the body (1) of the device.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A slowing down and stopping device for a machine rolling on rails which have a head and a narrower web below said head, said device comprising a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally extending body for placing on top of said head of the rail for the purpose of receiving on top of the body a wheel of said machine and forming an abutment for said wheel, and means for connecting the device to the rail, the connecting means comprising a plate, resiliently yieldable claws which are mounted on the plate and are movable relative to said plate transversely of said axis between a spread-apart first position of rest for receiving said head therebetween and a second position in which said claws can close around and engage under said head, the plate being adapted to be applied against the top of the rail, and moving means pivotally connected to the plate and pivotable relative to said plate about an axis extending transversely of said longitudinal axis between an inoperative position in which inoperative position said moving means allow said claws to assume said first position and operative positions in which operative positions said movable means are cooperative with said claws for moving said claws toward each other and maintaining said claws in said second position thereof, said moving means comprising an element which is pivotally mounted on said plate and is rigid with said body so that said body is also pivotable about said transverse axis. 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said claws are made from spring steel wire and each comprise two rectilinear sections pivotally mounted on the plate and extending in directions parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device and interconnected by a loop for closing round the head of the rail under the effect of said moving means. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said plate is formed by a U-shaped member having unequal branches and provided with a reinforcing web which is welded to said branches, the claws being pivotally mounted in the branches of said U-shaped member on each side of said web. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first rectilinear section of each of the claws is engaged in apertures formed in each of the branches of the U-shaped member and the second rectilinear section is engaged in an aperture formed in a single one of the branches of said U-shaped member and offset relative to the aperture formed in the same branch and receiving the first rectilinear section of the claw. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said element of said moving means comprises a case having a generally parallelepipedic shape and an open side and fixed to the body of the device by a rod constituting a handle, said plate being pivotally mounted within said case and said case comprising lateral walls cooperative with said claws in said operative positions of said moving means. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5, for placing on a rail provided with rail section-connecting fishplates, wherein the loops of the claws each comprise a portion in the shape of a ramp which extends away from said longitudinal axis, and the lateral walls of the case define notches which permit the claws to spread apart when they come into contact with said fishplates, and said moving means comprise elastically yieldable means for elastically retaining the claws in said second position when the device is out of contact with said fishplates. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said moving means comprise spring strips mounted on the lateral walls of said case for elastically engaging and retaining the claws in said second position. 
     
     
       8. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first rectilinear section of each of the claws is engaged in apertures formed in each of the branches of the U-shaped member and the second rectilinear section is engaged in an aperture formed in a single one of the branches of said U-shaped member and offset relative to the aperture formed in the same branch and receiving the first rectilinear section of the claw. 
     
     
       9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said element of said moving means comprises a case having a generally parallelepipedic shape and an open side and fixed to the body of the device by a rod constituting a handle, said plate being pivotally mounted within said case and said case comprising lateral walls cooperative with said claws in said operative positions of said moving means. 
     
     
       10. A device according to claim 9, for placing on a rail provided with rail section-connecting fishplates, wherein the loops of the claws each comprise a portion in the shape of a ramp which extends away from said longitudinal axis, and the lateral walls of the case define notches which permit the claws to spread apart when they come into contact with said fishplates, and said moving means comprise elastically yieldable means for elastically retaining the claws in said second position when the device is out of contact with said fishplates. 
     
     
       11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said moving means comprise spring strips mounted on the lateral walls of said case for elastically engaging and retaining the claws in said second position. 
     
     
       12. A device according to claim 2, wherein said element of said moving means comprises a case having a generally parallelepipedic shape and an open side and fixed to the body of the device by a rod constituting a handle, said plate being pivotally mounted within said case and said case comprising lateral walls cooperative with said claws in said operative positions of said moving means. 
     
     
       13. A device according to claim 12, for placing on a rail provided with rail section-connecting fishplates, wherein the loops of the claws each comprise a portion in the shape of a ramp which extends away from said longitudinal axis, and the lateral walls of the case define notches which permit the claws to spread apart when they come into contact with said fishplates, and said moving means comprise elastically yieldable means for elastically retaining the claws in said second position when the device is out of contact with said fishplates. 
     
     
       14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said moving means comprise spring strips mounted on the lateral walls of said case for elastically engaging and retaining the claws in said second position. 
     
     
       15. A device according to claim 1, wherein said element of said moving means comprises a case having a generally parallelepipedic shape and an open side and fixed to the body of the device by a rod constituting a handle, said plate being pivotally mounted within said case and said case comprising lateral walls cooperative with said claws in said operative positions of said moving means. 
     
     
       16. A device according to claim 15, for placing on a rail provided with rail section-connecting fishplates, wherein the claws each comprise a portion in the shape of a ramp which extends away from said longitudinal axis, and the lateral walls of the case define notches which permit the claws to spread apart when they come into contact with said fishplates, and said moving means comprise elastically yieldable means for elastically retaining the claws in said second position when the device is out of contact with said fishplates. 
     
     
       17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said elastically yieldable means comprise spring strips mounted on the lateral walls of said case. 
     
     
       18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a member for limiting the rotation of the plate relative to said case so as to prevent the plate from completely moving out of said case. 
     
     
       19. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a member for limiting the rotation of the plate relative to said case so as to prevent the plate from completely moving out of said case. 
     
     
       20. A device according to claim 15, further comprising a member for limiting the rotation of the plate relative to said case so as to prevent the plate from completely moving out of said case.